Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-11-03
(omcial communication

Dear Sisters of The Local Unions: Let
us hold memorial meetings everywhere.
in honor of our fallen comrads and
brother, Hon. John b. Finch.
He was a splendid champion and
brave defender of our cause in its broad
est aspects, standing committed to pro-
hibition by amendment, by statute, by
politics, and by ballot in the hands of
woman.
Remember in your prayers and utter
ances, his bereft wife and only child, lit
tie Johnny. SO like his father in gifts and
possibilities. Yours respectfully.
FRANCES Z. WILLARD, Pres't.
CAROLINE B. BUELL., Cor. Sec.
October 18th. 1887.
MIR. Finch was born in Chenango
county, N. Y, March 18th, 1852, He
was student from his youth, and seems
to have prepared, whether consciously
or not, for his life work. He studied
medicine and law. Mr.. Finch married
Miss Frances 4. Manchester, of Cort-
land, N. Y, who is prominent in the w.
G. I. U. She is lady of capital bust
ness ability. and has materially aided
her husband by attending to his bust
ness affairs, neglected by him through
stress of prohibition labor. His wife
| "a M Inh
In 1876, Mr.. Finch took the field as u
lecturer on temperance, in the State of
New York. In Buffalo he had great sue
cess in the Ribbon" work. In 1877 he
removed to Nebraska, and led the "Red
Ribbon" movement with the "Iron Clad
Pledge" AS an evidence of his resour-
ces at this time, the fact is stated that he
lectured in Omaha for sixty-two consec-
utiye nights in 1878. This year he was
elected a representative from Nebraska
to the r. w. G. L., and in 1884 he was
elected r. W. G. I. This position, at
the head of the Good Templar organiza-
ton. he retained till bis death, having
been elected last May for period of two
years.
1t Is likely he would count as the chief
work of his life the successful reunion
of the two bodies of Good Templars.
This union was completed in 1877, and
with the rapid growth of the Order the
last few years puts it at the head of all
temperance organizations for numbers
and extent of jurisdiction. 1t Is sig
nificant fact that the emblems of mourn
ing for MIR. Finch are displayed In al
most every civilized land.
Gen. Fisk says of him: 81 knew John
b. Finch intimately. He was genuine,
true manly far the strongest man on
the platform in any party in this coun-
try. His debate with DIR. Dio Lewis on
prohibition, and his reply to d. Ber-
thune Duffield, in Detroit. are among the
ablest of his addresses. To the Prohibit
ton party the loss Is measureless, as we
view matters from our human point of
view; but Gods cause and Gods work
go on, no matter how many workmen
are buried. John b. Finch, in private
life, was genial, hearty, and Christian
one of the purest-minded men l ever
met
The Voice pays the following tribute:
His splendid head was slowed with
facts, incidents. illustrations. Like
Webster in his reply to Hayne, all he had
to do when he wanted thunderbolt,
was to reach out his hand and grasp it.
Cool, clear, and logical, he could rise,
upon occasion, in flights of imprisoned
eloquence SO strong-winged as to carry
along all within reach of his voice. He
was not only an almost peerless debater,
but an almost peerless orator. The
voice, the physical force behind it, the
countenance, the gesticulatien, were in
struments of the finest quality, used with
marvellous dexterity. Back of all was a
life of integrity, heart of generosity,
scorn of all meanness, petty vanity,
treachery and trickery. He was ac-
quainted with the King of Kings and the
Lord of Lords.
Hail and farewell, statesman, orator,
leader, friend! And may the God who
has taken you to your reward, uphold
thee who is so badly bereft. and defend
the cause in whose service you have laid
down your life. From the Union Signal